Fridge magnets and a Miao ethnic embroidery piece are among the creative products on show at a floral design exhibition at the flower expo.[Photo provided to China Daily]
On Shanghai's Chongming Island, a floral design exhibition will run from June 5 to 20 at the 10th China Flower Expo.
The exhibition will showcase creative products, poems and literature related to flowers and other types of plants.
Zhou Zhicheng, from the fashion and design school at Donghua University, is leader of the team in charge of the exhibition design.
"It has been a tradition in Chinese culture to live in harmony with plants," Zhou says. "We hope the show demonstrates related Chinese customs and human beings' love for nature."
To illustrate the styles of traditional Chinese architecture, which is centered on simplicity and elegance, the team has used white display boards to emphasize the details of the exhibits, with real flowers placed in the background as decorations. Some folding room dividers will be set up to create the feel of moving through a classic, tranquil garden in the Jiangnan region south of the Yangtze River.
One highlight of the exhibition is Butterflies Love Flowers, a Miao ethnic embroidery work by Shanghai designer Chen Qing. The craft originates from regions such as Hunan and Guizhou provinces.
Fridge magnets and a Miao ethnic embroidery piece are among the creative products on show at a floral design exhibition at the flower expo.[Photo provided to China Daily]
"The interaction between butterflies and colorful flowers symbolizes the relationship between people, and the pomegranate in the work stands for wealth and happiness," Chen says.
In addition, bamboo crafts by local craftsman Zhu Wenrui will be showcased. The bamboo craft is an intangible cultural heritage of Yuepu town in the north of Shanghai.
"Locals used to make agricultural tools such as brooms and baskets with bamboo. But with the development of material and technology, bamboo products are no longer indispensable in daily life. We hope Zhu's works will demonstrate the significance of preserving traditional cultures," Zhou says.
Other innovative works on display include stamps, postcards and fridge magnets with a red flower theme by Shanghai designer Tan Ali. Tan drew inspiration from red seals with flower patterns that were stamped on books by teachers whenever students did well.
Part of the exhibition will leverage on holographic projection and artificial intelligence to offer visitors an immersive experience interacting with digital mountains, rivers and forests.
